RAWALPINDI: Following a directive by the federal government, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has decided not to cease providing airport services to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) after the latter submitted a plan for the payment of the former’s dues.

The decision was made after the Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet addressed the issue and the national flag carrier agreed to pay CAA’s dues in instalments.

The CAA director finance informed the PIA chief financial officer that the payment schedule received from the airline had been accepted by the Civil Aviation Authority’s director general in view of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic and financial problems being faced by PIA.

The CAA, however, has advised PIA to honour its commitment without any delay or default.

The authority has also asked all the airport managers not to collect airport charges from the passengers. The CAA, which, has also been facing financial difficulties, said that PIA had been asked to discontinue the collection of charges from the passengers after Sept 30 on sale of its tickets.

PIA owed Rs127.7 billion to the aviation authority, according to the notification.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2021